Have you ever read a ranking of the best books, movies, or artists and thought, “They couldn’t be more wrong!” We all have a favorite song or band that we’re convinced is the universal favorite and anyone who thinks otherwise is wrong. It’s only human to want your choice to be recognized as the best. At the K-LOVE Fan Awards, we honor the artists and Christian songs that the fans have chosen to be the best of the best. Sadly, not everyone gets to take home a trophy. What does that mean for the artists who don’t win? What about the musicians who don’t receive a nomination? We’ll look at a few reasons why some artists and songs don’t receive a nomination and why that’s not the end of the world.
Think back to the 80’s and 90’s. Who were the big artists of the day? Sandi Patty, Michael W. Smith, Twila Paris, Steven Curtis Chapman, and a handful of other notable acts. As great as these singers all were (and the active ones still are), many of the musicians at the time seemed pretty similar. It was mostly a group of singer/songwriters or soloists. Aside from the people we listed, it’s likely that you can only think of about a dozen more as well.
Over the years, the number of Christian artists available for fans to enjoy has grown exponentially. We have a thriving genre of Christian rap with artists like Lecrae, Tedashii, Trip Lee, and others who are getting recognition both inside and out of the Christian community. The worship movement started by artists like Chris Tomlin, Hillsong, and Matt Redman has grown to the point where everyday church bands are gaining a voice so that they can inject Christian music with their own personal style. Groups like Vertical Church Band and Bethel Music are creating songs from their home churches that inspire millions across the globe.
Aside from these areas of Christian music, we still have a good hard rock scene, energetic pop/dance music, soulful singer/songwriters, and even more. Much of this success is due to the way in which technology has made the process easier on both bands and listeners. You don’t have to see a band live or buy their album from a local store to know what they sound like (but please, buy albums and tickets to live shows). Instead, you can hear their music online or through K-LOVE and have a pretty good indication of what they’re shooting for in their sound. You can even contact the band through social media to say you liked its newest single.
We live in an embarrassment of riches when it comes to finding new Christian songs. There’s never been a better time to be a fan of Christian music because you can find just about anything you want. On top of today’s top Christian songs, you have easy access to artists from the past. Everything is at your fingertips. Having such a large group of great bands today can have its downside, though.
If you’ve ever seen an awards show, you know it’s typical to only have 3-5 nominees per category. This is because you have to draw the line somewhere when it comes to voting. You wouldn’t want to see 15 nominees duking it out as that would lead to something winning with only 10-15% of the vote. By narrowing the options, you get more of a consensus choice. This is a good system for just about any kind of voting, but it can have a drawback in that not as many deserving candidates get representation. If we’re being honest, though, in just about any category in any program, there are usually two or three favorites that are battling it out for the title. In recent years, the Academy Awards has changed the limits on the Best Picture nominees so that up to 10 films may be nominated. This opened the door for fan favorites like “Up” and “The Blind Side” to be nominated for the top film prize, but everyone knew that these films didn’t stand a chance against more traditional films that came in with the kind of momentum needed to win Best Picture. In 2010, the first year with an expanded field, it was still a two-film race between “The Hurt Locker” and “Avatar.”
Turning back into the field of Christian music, an ever expanding group of talented artists means that not every musician can make it onto the ballot. Good news for listeners, not so great news for Christian songs looking to sneak onto the list of nominees.
Unlike the Academy Awards, the Grammys, and a host of other highly decorated awards shows, the K-LOVE Fan Awards is about giving the fans a voice. Autograph sessions, spectacular concerts, and more help fans see their favorite artists up close and in a way that can’t usually be accomplished at a normal tour stop.
Another aspect of this awards show that gives power to the fans is the voting process. Long before your favorite Christian artists are walking the red carpet, we allow the fans to narrow a list of potential nominees by picking their favorites. At the end of the day, fans are the biggest influence on which Christian songs are nominated and the eventual winners.
If you were to list out all of the goals that a musician could have, it’s unlikely that winning awards would be the very top. This is especially true with Christian musicians. Of course there’s always a sense of joy that comes from winning. No one is ever disappointed to take home a trophy. Music is about more than that, though. Artists don’t write Christian songs thinking about all of the awards they’re going to rack up. Music is about pouring out your heart into each and every song. To be a truly memorable artist, you need to have a message worth sharing. That’s why the Christian songs that resonate with listeners most are the ones that remind them of God’s love and faithfulness. Music is about speaking to the soul, not trying to figure out how you can get the most awards. God has placed specific talents among today’s top artists for a reason. Let’s not get too wrapped up in the things that are secondary to that calling.
While there are always a few Christian songs that don’t make it onto the list of nominations, the K-LOVE Fan Awards is looking to give fans the opportunity to make their voices heard. Each year we bring together the top bands, authors, filmmakers, and athletes for a one-of-a-kind event. Find out how you and your family can be a part of the ultimate fan experience by clicking below.
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